Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 12, Number 23, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 3 December 1881 — Page 6

»mh,

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

DO YOUR BEST.

Have you failed to-day, Good Heaven Tis no cause for sorrow,

Yon would do the best you can. Do your best and leave the rest Better may come to-morrow.

Have you tort your land or gold? That's no cause for sighing: One bright hour doth oft infold

Many a year'* denying. Be not weary or downcast "Patience holdnt the gate at last." Do your best and leave the rest,

And never give op trying.

Rich or poor, be all a man Wear no gotten fetter. Do the very best youcan,

And you will soon do better. Everyday yon do yonr best Js a vantage for the re*t. Donl complain every gain

Ik making your bent still better.

Atlantic Monthly.

SO AS BY FIRE.

W. O. STODDARD.

I.

"My bouse'll be finished by the first snow. But He was a strongly-made, sun-burned, vigorous-looking man, not yet thirty, and te stood on a high roll of tbe prairie, from which he could overlook the waving wealth of a vast field of oorn.

His mouth closed suddenly behind the last short word, and a shadow came into bis bright eyes. They had censed to study the corn-field, turning rather towards a pair who were riding along its northerly border. They were too far away for him to hear the tall, bearded old man, on the heavy bay horse, remark: "Virginia, ther'n Marsh, standin' on the rise. Reckon he's takin' a look of his corn crop."

There was no verbal answer, but in another instant the roan mare under his lady companion was curveting spitefully. "What on airth did you hit her for? She was goin'well enough. You ain't safe with a whip."

She was evidently quite safe in the saddle, however, and the bay now imitated the roan in a manner which brought them rapidly to the summit of "the I*{ho "Mornin', Marsh. How's your crap turnin' out? Looks prime." "Forty acres cut and shocked. Going in on the shucking to-morrow. I'm counting on sixty bushels to the acre, t)be auras of it. You're workin' ahead some, Marsh Havne. Corn's botter'n wheat, this year." "When aro vnti going to thresh out your yield? You'll have a heap of it." "Best yield I ever harvested, if the markot was worth anything. They do say it's cotnin' up. Jest look at them ricks of mine!"

ntiUK on sixty uuKiiuiN to mc it. •v~*,r "—,

They were a mile and a half due west but no tree stood botween to prevent view of them, nor did any fence cross the fringe of thoopen, unbroken prairie A line of forest arose beyond the ricks and loyond that, unseen "from the knoll the great pluiti rolled away, with only

That was Marshall Hayne's first dis

seemed to

bo

Kverv line of his face and every tone of his deep, musical voice seemed to vouch for him. He was speaking of dumb animals, to be sure, but the color deepened in Virginia's handsome faco as she replied, curtly: "So do I!"

There was a world of firm decision In the words, and In the sudden compression of the red lips which uttered them. Even the roan mare must have comprehended. for she gave up her pretty rebellion, nod began to paw the hard, black surface of the prairie road boneath her. •Marsh," remarked old Crawford, •Isn't vour house nigh done?" "All' finished in slue. Uota good many things in, too. All tbe crlbs'll be up in time to hold the crop. "(iwiue so live thar this Winter?"

It

was

The tlush in his face was now fiery ml, as he suddenly turned to her father: "Bvthe way! Did von take note of the prairie fire, last Might, northeast? The sky was good and red. 'Way beyond the timber? Yes, I saw it. "It'll 6uru out whar it is, just as it alters does. It won't git across the slough." "Don't vou 1* too sure of that, now. Pvea mintl to do some hack-tiring on that side of my farm. A tire would go through my standing corn like It was dry grass."

Heck on it would. 'Twon*t come, though. I've lived on this prairie for more'n ten year'and no tire ever come a-nlgh me." "I don't care to have one come nigh me till mv corn's in crib." "Come"along. Virginia. Your ujother'll lie tonkin for us." "Good-day," said Marsh. "Good-morning,'* *ald his two neighbors, almost in the same breath, and irgitiia added, "You ntfcy tell Celerity Bitter*, for me, that we're going to town tomorrow, and il she wants me to get tbe things she spoke of, she'd better let tne knew." "111 tell her. Palm BUter'll be glad of an errand to your heuse."

In two seconds more, Virginia's fiery roan mare was fairly dancing alang the road, while Marshall Hayne strode fiercely down the slope in the opposite direction.

Virginia," remarked her tether, "why can't von treat Marsh Hayne a leetfo more neighborly? Thar Un\ a likelier young feller on this prairie. Thar's all «orta of real grit ans push into him. I«ook what be*a done with that thar farm!" "'Moetany m*n can handlea quarter section." "Xotth*# section* now •fore long."

&

en-

covery of something to say, directly, to old man, too!*1' „nj

otherwise absorbed.

"I've snoiled her let lior haveher own wav too much.'' ""That'll never do. I keep a pretty steady hand over everything I ride or drive."

Virginia, while her whole attention had A brawny, rugged-looking, and not uncomely six-footer quickly made his appearance around the corner of the yoangti house, but he wuno alone.

Marshall I lay no's turn to color

deeply, as he answered: "Can say. Beckon old Bitters'll have to loard me a while." "If I were Celerity," exclaimed Virginia, with the kind of smile which is no, smile at all, "I would mane you paint your house.'1

"Nobody wants him to." "Virginia, how you hev sweated that mare of your'n! Looks like you'd ridden her twenty miles ins read of ten "What's got into yon and her this morn' ing?" ie was very busy with her unruly pet just then, and t&ey were drawing me. If she (foes, I will. And what then? near the house, behind which rose the Yes, I'll do it, sores I bve. I nan stand tall ricks of unthreshed wheat. It was this any longer. a pleasant home, for that day and region xne outbuildings were good. There bis invitation to come in, but her father, were even orchards and a garden, and in at f*1,2 J™' a« akrnh. "W hat, \lUTSII7 1 tO front of the house an attempt at shrub bery.

The sole heiress of all that comfort, with so many broad acres around it, hardly needed Virginia's uncommon beauty of face and form so make her the acknowledged "belle of Crawford's Prairie." That she was so, however, and was disposed to assert her supremacy, was known toevery living thing Or person under or near that hospitable roof her father and mother excepted.

A somewhat stately, gray-haired dame awaited their coming, in the doorway with a brief, matronly greeting:

VWginny. if you're goin' to town tomorrow, you've heaps to do to-day. 'Pears like"everybody was a clearin' out at the same time." "Jfest exactly as well, mother," calmly responded her husband. "We can lock the house up. "We jest can. And we can throw the key In the well. Then, if sny feller wants to get in, he can crawl through a winder."

Many a dwelling on the prairie, in those days, was ignorant of lock or key, and well accustomed to take care of itself, but Crawford's contained more to tempt unlawful intrusion than did some others.

There was a cloud upon Virginia's face when she followed her mother into the house, although she did not hear her father mutter: "If I was Marsh Hayne, now, I'd not let any gal that lives treat me the way she's treated him. He's a right down good fell v. He's a heap too good for Celerity Bittors."

Perhaps but he was delivering Virginia Crawford's message at that very moment, and she may have guessed as much.

It had sent him to hold a somewhat animated conversation with a young woman who did not at ill resemble the belle of Crawford's Prairie, but who appeared very fully to appreciate her present company. She was not so tall as Virginia, but she was nearly as handsome, in her own way, and her blaek eyes flashed under her full eyebrows with as clear a warning of a strong will behind them as came from Virginia's own. In truth, the blue-gray eyes were the softer and the pleasanter to look upon. "Going to town, is she? I'm obliged to her for sendin' me word. Palmer, he's goin' off down the timber, after dark, can't leave home this evening. 'Pears

Meboe it's tliar. Hundred and forty like it wasn to do me any sort of good to have her go." "Well, never you mind. If you want to send word over, get your errand ready. I'll have to ride past Crawford's bv and by, and I'll leave it for you." '"Will you, now? I'd like it." "Where's Palm? I want him. Where's the old man?"

a:

The long, ode-story log-honse in front of which thov were talking, stood about a half a mile fieyond the great corn-field, in the middle of which arose the new

built, fresh-looking structure which was ried to be the future home of Marshall forf Hayne. The logs showed sigus of age, she but there was barely enough of plowed

the great pnuti roneu away, wuu ouiy few scattered farms, sixteen miles to the ground around them to fend off a prairie gn^o .... TKn itit.tAiu fainilv had not OCCU- v* county-seat and "town." "Your mures uneasy, this mornlug, Miss Crawford. What's the matter with her?"

fire. The Bitters family had not occu pied it long, and they were not of the class that open new farms. "Palm!" shouted the dark-eyed maid-

"Mr. Havne wants ye! Wants the master#-

"What's up, Marsh?"

nnt

"Well, Palm, it's just this: I don't care to be fired out of my corn crop. You take tbe double team and the break

plow, after dinner, and run two or three furrows along the north east fence and a little down tbe east side. The old man can rnn two or three more, about ten -ardsout,, and we'll singe off the grass

ya between 'em." "That 'ud stop 'most anything that was a high wind. Most likely it would then. Awful baste of work, though. Take all day to-morrer." "Can't help it, Palm. There were some pretty smart blisters, last year, be tween this and town. I don want any In mine."

It mav not have been said with the intention'of sending her own "company" off to his work, but she had managed to do it, for he answered licr a little promptly: "I'm putting in my time on my hoase and my corn, just now. Dou'tcare to have em burned up, either. Re«kon I'll go over and take a look at things.' lie marched away, and the black ei followed hioi keenly.

He's an awful worker, he is. He isn't so bad lookin' either, sometimes. Hank Sanders could lay him on tbe broad of his back, any day. Hank ort1 to be doin'somethin' with that thar land of his'n. It's high time thar was a crap into it.''

The eastern, or any other side of a quarter section of land, United States measure, is half a mile long, and furrows of that length, through virgin prairie sod. call for strong pulling. Marshall Hayne had told no man that he was altbe owner of the land upon which

break "nobody's land" for some un known new settler. Neither Bitters nor Crawford knew of his added claim to the respect of his

way be does. I've two whole neighbors, when he mounted his horae, w, but he'll be ahead of me, that evening, hut either his tended poaare iomr setaiooa, or Celerity** errand, or j»tDe"Msy &so." thing else, was lying heavv on his mind. «I Jo aint onsodable, neither. What 1 He paused for a moment In front of his time's he «ot to run around, nowadays,' own new house,and again he said to turnI'd like to know?" srtf:

cost

onless

Celerity Bitters had been listening, and she now remarked: "Hank Sanders, he said he'd be over to see me to-night. I'll get him to stop over and help. Thar heaps of fun atightin' fire.'

The inability of Celerity Bitters to carry her own errand over to Crawford was explained, but Marshall Havne made no comment on the explanation. Palmer Bitters walked slowly away, leaving her sister to complete her conversation with the energetic young farmer, who at the same time boarded with and employed the Bitters family. They were people whoso wav in life required them to keep employers and boarders. ,, _. "Owine to ride by Crawford's?" There was an Inquiring archness in the unflinching black eves. "Reckon so. 'Twon't be out of my wav to do your errand for you." "*Well, no, I s'pose not. You wouldn^t think of stoppiu' in now, if Jinny Crawford asked ye? They do say she doesn't make herself the pleasantest kind of company for them she doesn't

TERRS HAUTE SATtM)AY EVENING MAIL

"It will be ready by the first snow. He rode onward, then, with the air of a man who is willing his horse and thoughts should take their own gait, until he neared the house with tbe ricks behind it. "Will I go in? Not unless she asks

It was not from Virginia he received ... »y\ ytnmA in Kilt fot^AC I UIV WUU "What, Marsh? I to tell her all that? Reckon not. I'd miss half of it. Yon jest

fit

oft vour horse and come into the ouse. I'll find her for ye. Tell her yerself."

Marsh obeyed, and in a few minutes more the young people were sitting together in thepleasant little parlor by themselves. To judge by the time required for its delivery and explanation, the message of Celerity Bitters must have been along one, and very well remembered. It was an unpropitious piece of work for Marshall Hayne, however, if be had meant that any special errand of his own should follow. The very telling of Celerity's words over and over, to make sure of them, brought too vividly to Virginia Crawford's mental vision a picture of her visitor in close communion with a comely maiden, who smiled upon him unutterable things through a pair of black, brilliant eyes.

She noticed, too,—and a rebellious feeling arose witbin her as she studied it,—how the wilful look of set, determined purpose grew and deepened in the strong face before her. It seemed to look out aggressively and assail her, arousing something desperate and opposing from the hidden depths of her heart. It was a fierce and struggling feeliug, and it swelled until she was almost afraid of him. She was angry with herself for that, but her fear grew fast when her eyes told her that his face was getting strangely pale, and her ears gave her to know that his deep, bell-like voiqe was trembling, and that it seemed to well up from away down, down,— some hidden place, w"hence no voice of man had ever before come to her. She strove not to understand it, and not to know why her heart was beating more quickly, and harder, although as yet he was not talking about anything in particular,—land, and crops, and stock, and his new house, and so forth.

The room was swiftly getting dark, as rooms will at the close of October days, but Virginia could see Marshall Hayne's face as plainly as before, for some reason. It seemed to stand out of the gloom as if framed in it,—white, fixed, determined. I

At last therec4ttie alfaortient when her heart stoppedItaftot beating for a pulse or two, and begafl^to swell. She could tvards, precisely iriliSfiiying, buiwhen lie •ords:, =. ireidj^ -by the first snow,

hardlv rem what lie came to th$

It will

The5 ft

hoofs

JU JOU gp into it with me?"

Virginia. "I?' The from ter|i to heel" "Ydu down!"

tmtftion burst as she sprang

Ifhen ft will burn it -.Jhad &£ad and mourn-•

...i they came from a distance, wiile the lat|er^vere uttered in a liarsh. hctorsewhisper. She would have givenla woj$$ ,for the power to speak again! ther£ ttt the )eepe1n1|g gloon% hack ward step «1 eariwellins ofher bea$| long, and the next eomw

ful son

Shertjia''stroke 6f tli« rae updfe tbejoad as 1$

iat did I say?'% W »on a chair,, and the very KK)mlly ®tmt of the little struggle against the overMarshall Hayne's will had oort|thing. #i

dusk parlor.

het"

Neither oKrMr. Crawford nor his frife knew^atiythBiK more concerning, their jhbors evening call than that seemed a somewhat shortened one. It had.been quite plain that he had yet another errand ?"ttp the road." The^ knew that by the rapid gait at which hf rodo awiy.

,f

4

Vi^infla well satisfied to spend the follo^ngdav in town, and even that her f^fe| business at last comploled the^wf^to rfmain thereover

^Vhen, httffever, on |he next day, they set out for $fcme, *$ie as conscious of a feeling of tyneaoinessif, which inci-eased with every nllle they traveled. Her father seemed to shire it with her, but she understood that better when he at last remarked: "They do say tbe prairie was all afire, hereaway, last tiight. You can seethe smoke oV it now. Rejfikon it didn't git across the slough. It5* couldn't, unless there was a high wind but then the wind's nsin', and it's a-blowin' the wrong way to &uit mc."

Meantime it fad been a great relief to Marshall Havne to have a large job on his hands—o"no he could push along feverishly, "so we can get at work at the corn shucking."

There is some excitement in "back-fir-ing,' even when you feel sure the blazes you are kindling cannot get away from you.

There were three broad furrows aloag the northeast fence, and four more along the outer border of the ten-yard strip of prairie so inclosed, to be burned over. The grass on this, while pretty dry, was nowhere very luxuriant, and before the day was over the work was done, with no barm to anybody, and a fi«e opportunity given Hank Sanders to "beat fire" at the side of Celerity Bitters. An average width of fifty feet Of scorched sod and bare earth and a high rail fence now protected the entire eiu-terly front of Marsh Havne's farm, and in all other directions it was fairly safe, for other reasons. Tbe scant plowing at Bitters' could be trusted to guard the log-house and its surrounding*.

The night after was a bad one for sleeping, if only because of the strong smell of burning grass continually pouring in through tbe open windows. It grew so terribly pungent by sunrise, that Marshall fiayne exclaimed, as he sprang out of bed: "It's coming! There's, no mistake about it, this time."

A little later be remarked: "Wonder if old man Crawford's got home yet. I don't reckon he has. I wont wait for breakfast. I'll go right over and see about it. She won't be there. If she is, I'll know in time keep away."

He dkf not even wait to saddle a horse, but walked swiftly away from Bitters' without saying a word to a soul.

Ou he went, with quickening strides, to and through his own domain. He paused for one moment in front of the neat but as yet unpainted frame dwelling. There waa a patch of young fruit trees to the left of it. There were signs around it of more improvements to come, and It had a dumb look of loneliness which seemed to plead for human occupancy.

He shook hk head. "No. I wont be a fool. It shall stay there, hut 111 never put my fool over the threshold. They sav there are good locations to he had in Kansas. I'd rather £o further,—Nevada, now? Colora-

On again, until he was near enough to Crawford's to make sure there was no smoke rising from the kitchen chimney. There was, however, an abundance of smoke now floating down from the North and East, and he muttered, gloomily: "Into the house? No, I don't feel like doing that, but I'll see that the stock is safe. I'll tether every horse out in the winter wheat. That green enough. The horned critter'll run for the timber, and the hogs are there now. I couldn't do much for anything else, and it may not reach the house. No, I reckon I wont go in."

It required some little time to empty the stables, and transfer their equine contents to the middle of the wheat field. Virginia Crawford's pet mare was

Eands

articularly restive under the kind that led her away. She may have suspected that Marshall Hayne was stealing her.

The naze in tbe air seemed somehow to have settled upon his soul by the time bis self-imposed task was completed. He moved more slowly than at first, and his head drooped forward in a brooding silence. He kept to his purpose, however, about not entering the house, and now, as if it were a neighborhood to escape from, he walked away across the prairie, letting his undirected feet carry him vaguely northward.

The first words he spoke came from him when, after wandering half a mile or so, he found himself in a deep, treebordered, winding hollow, that was al most a ravine: "The slough! I declare I had no idea that it was dead dry. The rosin weeds, too. Never saw 'em any taller. If a fire should get in here, now, wouldn't it burn!"

There could be small doubt of it, for the white gum which exuded from the tall, drying stalks of the weeds, and from their broad foot-leaves, was the very treasure-house of terrible beat. rie did not linger long in the* hollow, but the moment he was on some higher grouud, beyond the trees, he uttered a sharp exclamation: "Wind rising? I should say it was. The fire has crossed the slough! Look yonder! It's making straight for my place. Oh, but ain't I glad I'm ready for it!"

He stood still for a moment, and looked arouud him. The scene he was gazing upon was well worth some careful study. The wind was indeed blowing more strongly. The line of the advancing fire was broken and irregular, but if one fact was plainer than another, it was that the great blaze to the eastward had not only broken the feeble barrier of thin forest in its way, but was traveling furiously down the slough itself. It would scarcely cut him off from going back by the way he came, and it would be among Crawford's stubblefields in ten minutes more, and then among his ricks and stables, and no power could save the homestead. "It'll be an awful coming back For them," he muttered but his next word was almost a shout: "I'm penned in!" His glances were swift and keen. "It's making head westerly. It's got in behind me. The whole prairie's afire to the northward. I've heard of such things but I'd no idea I'd ever be trapped this way myself. If I had a match I'd set the grass afire here, and burn a place to stand in. Haven a one! Havel got fto be burned alive?" «S|That was a serious problem, surely, fbi- a strong man to face, but Marshall Hay ne faced it. He had turned deathly .%hite, the night before, in Virginia Crawford's parlor, but he did not lose a ^shade of color now. He did but step briskly forward, sayin«.tfiihimself:. "Not on this low ground, anyhow. The grass is too thick heri^ftnd there are too many weedi. I must go for the highest knoll I can reach, and the thinnest growth. Then, when tbe fire comes, I'll try a rush. Beckon that's mv only chance." ke walked more, softly after that thought came to hnh. Then he even ran, For at some dist4n before him the prairie arose in a knoll ifhicb was almost a knob. The grass would surely be short there, aud be would be able to take a wider look about him.

He reached it, and the air on the little summit was easier to breathe in. Fire, tire, fire, in all directions. It was sweeping vigorously down through the tall blue grasss ana rosin weeds of the slough away there behind him, but there was too much black smoke from them to guess bow near it might be to Crawford's. It was well foi* him ho had not sought an escape in that direction. "The north road to totvn comes in over yonder. The fire has burned along both sides of it, nobody knows how far. There's a double buggy, now, coming along, awav bactr. It must bo old Crawford's. No', they're not in any danger, but then":

He paused there, for the blazing line in frant of him was drawing nearer. Harder and hardjr blew the wind, too, and higher leapt the red tongues of the flame. "I'll wait till it strikes into the short

Sut

rass on the slope. Then for a charge I must go straight across. If I lose my way In the smoke, and run right or left, I'm a dead man."

His trousers were already tucked into his boots. His coat was cirefully buttoned up to his chin, and tbe collar of it turned up, while his handkerchief was. made to cover as much as possible of his' neck, and a flap of it was drawn across his mouth. Then his slouched hat waa pullsd over his forhead, and all was ready. "If I'm not suffocated, and if I don't stumble, I believe I can get through."

Coo! and calm and strong every nerve was tense and every muscle was utterly ready. And now, lending before it dense clouds of rosin wood smoke, the prairie fire began its fierce charge up the slope, like tbe English infantry at Inketman. "Now for it! Life or death 1"

He went forward with a great, staglike bound, and tho smoke-cloud closed arouna him.

He had not oeen watching the double buggy for some few minutes, but there had been something in it worth watching. The driver was alone on tbe front seat, with a bag of flour beside bim, and be aid not turn to look heuind as he steadily remarked: "It isn't of any use. mother. That blaze reach cur plsce before we da."

Stern and silent sat old Mrs. Crawford, whi!e her husband was speaking but a younger and better pair of eyes had been straining their vision upon the smoke wreaths and eddies ahead. "Father! There's a man on the hill! He will be burned I" "God pity him! That's so V"

The buggy had been driven along the prairie road, as closely in tbe rear of the advandog fire aa old Mr. Crawford dared to pass his snorting, frightened span of baya, and tbe distance bstwaA them and the knob waa not so very great. A gust of wind lifted tbe smoke from it, Tost for a moment. "Father! Father! Cant you see? Cm we do nothing? Mother,—mother,— mother,—it is Marshall Havne!"

The old man shivered from head to foot, and Mrs. Crawford turned suddenly around to look at her daughter. She needed but one look.

"Virginia! My poor girl! Oh, I did not know it!" Virginia's lips were parted, and aha was staring fixedly at the black ball of vapor which had again hidden the prairie knoll from view. Marshall Hayne was in there, somewhere, she knew, with the fierce fire smiting him.

White, oh how white a face was hers for a mother to gaze upon! There was no trace of eolor, even on the lips.

Old Crawford reined in his horses, groaning aloud. It seemed but a minute more, an eternally long minute of horrified silence, when the staggering form of a man burst through the nearer line of smoke, and a pair of arms were thrown wildly upward, as if their owner mingled a word of thanksgiving with his first gasp of breathable air. He needed more air and fresher, and he once again hurried forward.

The bays were suddenly lashed to a gallop, just as Virginia Crawford faintly muttered: "Is that Marsh? Oh, mother, is be saved?"

The bays were again reined in, quickly, for there was a man in the road before tbem. "Hold the reins, mother!" shouted old Crawford, as he sprang to the ground. "Marsh, is it you Are you much burned? Can you speak?"

He might well ask him who he was, under the thick dusting of soot and ashes that covered him from head to foot.

At that moment there was a low cry behind old Crawford, and the form of his daughter darted passed him. "Marsh? Oh, Marsh, why won't you speak to me

Her white hands were on his shoulders, and her streaming eyes were studying his face, but there was color* again in her own, now. "I'm all right, Virginia, but I'm afraid there's nothing left of your place. I took your mare and the other horses out into the wheat field. She's safe." "You've been caring for us? Risking your life for us! Oh, Marsh, are you hurt?'' "Not much, I reckon. Burned on my hands a little—that's all. Have to get a new pair of boots."

Yes, and a now hat and coat and his hair, beard, and eyebrows had suffered and the Crawfords would find only heaps of ashes where they had left so fair a home. But what of all that! What was any such loss, compared to the treasure which had come to Virginia through that wall of smoke a«d fire, or to the one Marshall Hayne bad found at the end of his desperate rush for life! "Get into the buggy, Marsh. He won't noed no help, Jinny. Did you sav you'd saved tho critters?" "fteckon they're all right, but I didn't get anything out of the house. You'd better take the road to mine, at the forks. We .pot in all (tay, yesterday, back-fir-ing." "That's what I ought to have done, 'stead of going to town."

There was a groat deal of silence dur-, ing the short remainder of that drive but old Crawford followed his young neighbor's advice, for the right" hand road, at the forks, would have led him into a hotter country than his horses would have been willing to travel.

Before long, they could all see the great blaze which went up from house and barns and corn cribs and stacks of wheat.

The land won't burn," said tho brave old man, almost cheerily. "Glad the stock is safe. That was good of you, Marsh. I don't owe a cent, audit won't break mo up. Glad your place isn't hurt but you had a close call of it yourself."

He heard a very long breath drawn at that moment by somebody upon the back seat of tho buggy.

At the door of the new house they all got soberly down, and Mrs. Crawford walked straight to the door and through it. Her husband stayed to care for his own excited team, but Marshall Hayne and Virginia were just a little behind her. when she reaobed tbe threshhold. "Why, dear mo!" exclaimed the old lady. "It's nigh a 'most furnished! It's real comfortable!'

Perhajjs it was mere curiosity that carried neron so quickly, then, out of heaVing, although some experienced women are very wise. "Will you go in Virginia?" "I? Marsh?" "With me, I mean—Virginia?"

He passed the threshhola as he spoke, and there be stood, holding out both hands, half welcoming, half pleading. "Foreverand ever, Marsh!"

If, a few moments later, old Mrs. Crawford meant any more than she said, thero may have been some reason for the high color in her daughter's face, for part of the added tint was dusky: "Marah, you'd better get a clothes brush and some soap and water. I declare! Virginy, you 'most look as if you'd been through afire yourself."

Hi^further domestic arrangements of Marshall Hayne's new house wore completed a good while before tbe "first snow," although the Winter set in early that year.

He did not board with the Bitters family another day, but it was only a week or so after tne fire had done its work that Celerity remarked to Hank Sanders: •No, sir! I'm gwine to foller Jinny Crawford. Not till you've took some kind of a crap off that land o' yours, and put a house onto it."

NEWMAN—DYSPEPSIA CURED From the Hon. J. H. Benson, Hart Co.,Ga. Habtwkll, Ga,, Feb. 10,1881

I want to say a good word lor Brown's Iron Bitters. I am about sixty years of age, have warehouse, railroad and newspaper work to do. I have beon taking and various other kinds of whisky bitters to give me an appetite, and the only appetite I got was one for drink. Rev, Mr. Anderson, the presiding elder for tbe district, stopped with me not long ago suffering dreadfully with dyspepsia, I got him Brown's Iron Bitters. Thev cured him. After he left I eoneluded to take that remaining in the bottle, and I assure you it has made a new man out of me. I have no desire for stimulants, and believe I could eat an old pair of boots and digest them as easily as rice. J. B. Bbkbo*.

WOVE* that have beeu bed-ridden for years have been entirely cured of female weakness by tbe use of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. Send to Mrs. Lydia E. Pinkham, 283 Western Avenue, Lynn, Mass., for pamphlets.

SI5M

per year can be easily made at

heme working for E. G. Bideout A Co., 10 Barclay Street, New York. Send for tbelr catalogue and toll particular*.

A CAKD.

TO all wbo axe suflfering from tbe emm mud lndisczvUoDs of yoath, nervous weakam, early decay, kmat manhood, Ac., I will •end a recipe that will core you, FREE OF CHARGE. Tfcis great remedy ws* discovered by missionary In Sooth America. Send self-addressed envelope to the Bev. Joseph T, Irnnan, Station J. New York City, afi to.

•Swayne'a Ointment"! "Swayne's Ointment". "Swayne'a Ointment"! "Swayne's Ointment"] "Swayne's Ointment" "swayne's Ointment"! "Swayne's Ointment"^ "Swaynels Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment" I "Swayne's Ointment"] "Swayne's Ointment" "Swayne's Ointment"! "Swayne's Ointmeut"] "Swayne's Ointmeut" "Swaynels Ointment"

"Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cures" "Cares"

"All" "All" "All".

"Skin "Skin "Skin "Skin "Skin "Skin "Skin "Skin

r,V

Since the day& of Hippocrates no remedy haa obtained so boundless conlldenoe or conferred on mankind so estimable a blessing as swayne's Ointment.

"Certainly the best remedy ever in my practice." G. W. CqP ton,M. D. of Vermont.

'W •SIS

I It curesTettus, Itch, [Salt Rheum, Scald Head, Barbers Itch, I Sores, Scaly. Crusty, I Itehs Skin Eruptions Land that terrible maI lady, "Itching Piles." I The svmptoms of »which are moisture like perspiration, intense itching:—parti-i-culftriy at nignt after

I gettiug warm, which I feels as if pin worms J-were crawling in and I about the rectum,

"Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itching Plies" "Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Itching Piles" "Kching Piles" "Itching Piles"

The private parts aro soften aflected. For I this or any skin disease Swayne's Ointiu out is superior to any article in the I the market.

"I have suffered 25 years from Itching Piles,consulted many physicians and used many remedies but .found no permanent until I usea Swaynels

A

Ointmeut." Geo. Simpson, New Haveu, Ct.

Diseases" Diseases" Diseases" Diseases" Diseases" Diseases" Diseases" Diseases"

Ask your drui__ for it. srJMwly

NATURE'S TRIUMPH.

Frasler's Root BlIters.

If you are weak, or languid, use Fratier's Bitters. If your flesh is flabby and your complexion sallow, use Frasier's Bitters.

If you live in a malarial district, use Frazier's Bitters. If worn down with the care of children, nee Frasicr's Bitters.

If you have got tho blues, use Frazier's Bitlei's. If you have kept late hours and lived contrary to the laws of health, use Frnzor's Root Bitters.

If you need toning up take Frazier's Root Bitters. If vou have abusletl Instead of used natural's gifts, use Frazier's Bitters.

If yon feel old before your time, use Frasier's Bitters. If life lias become a burden and you have gloomy forebodings, use Fraziers Bitters.

If your hands tremble and your eyes have grown dim, Frazier's Root Bitters will make yon feel young agaiu. Sold by all druggists everywhere at tho low price of 81.00 per bottle.

HENRY fc DAV1ES, Sola Prop's, Cleveland, O.

WAVI1SO IHSEtMKN,

Such as Consumption, Bronchitis, Asthma, General Debility, Brain Exhaustion,. Chronic Constipation, Chronic

Diarrhoea,Dyspepaia, or

LO«S OF XKRVOVN I'OWKlt, Are positively cured by Fellow's Compound Syrup of Hypopliosphltos.

As phosphorus enters so largely into the animal economy, It becomes par excellence the best vehicle with which to associate the other vitalizing ingredients of healthy BUod. Nerve and Muscle. In Fellow's Hyrup of Hypophosphltcs aro comblnod all the subsUvnce found necessary to insure robust health, and whereas it was Invented with a view to supply every deficiency, it certainly has preformed some wonderful cures.

Manchester, N. H., June 18,1880.

Mr. James I. Fellows. Dear Sir: I wish to acknowledge the great benefit I have received from tho use of "Fellows'Compound Syrup of Hypophosphiter" I have been an Invalid for nearly two year*, with a bronchial affection that hud become chronic. In the Fa'l of 1H781 had a physician eighty days In succession, besides 1he counsel of several others. They gave ine but little encouragement, some of them none. Last July I was advised to give your reincly a trial. I did so and in less than one week there was a marked improvement for the better. I have continued its use from that time until tho present, improving all tho time, and I can truthfully say I am more than a hundred per cent, better than when I commenced Its use. I havo Increased in weight aboutffourteen pounds, and my cough, which was fearful, has nearly disappeared. I believe had it not been for your Hyrup, I should ere this had been beyond the care* of life.

Very truly yours, ALBERT STORY. Do not be deceived by remedies bearing a similar name no other preparation is a substitute for this under any ch cumstrnce*.

FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGIST.

DR. J. B. MARCHI8I,

UTICA.N.Y.,

DinxiwwrofDS.

UTERINE CATHOLICON'

A P0SIT1VI MB! FOB fEHAU COMPUIMT*.

jsaBSS'St'srs.'MS

Dr. Msrehisi'e Uterine Caibollcon will cure ttuteg at tbe womb, Locorrbeea, Chronle Inflammalloa tod Ulceration of the Wojnb, Incidental Rwnorrbsge or Flooding, Pstofoi, Suppressed jaSlnwSlr MeMfcrnatton, Kklncy Complaint, •ad especUBr adapted to the Change of LU*. 5°°. Alt lettera of inaoiry:

SO Mf Ptnssy. *rw

pw,w

Dr. Ct«tne Catbolicon. Take so other. Trade supplied by OOOK A BELL

iHE IMPROVED IJSITED STATES SCALER,

dlroad, Track and others. 1 will, them tbe best scales made, andp

Wagon, Ballroad, Tnwk and others, guarantee them the best scales made. forntab tbem at prices that defy competition.^ Be sore and inquire into the merits of this ffwi* before purchasing elsewhere. For cir-

Terrs Haute, Ind.

all kinds tested and repair* Shop, corner 4th snd Gtdlck st^

Scales of promptly.

?P si

sat

VP"-